Daily Archive for November 1st, 2007

I had a friend send me a copy of an email yesterday about how your cell phone number is going to be released to telemarketers tomorrow if you do not call to add your cell phone number to the FTC’s Do Not Call Registry.

I was a little suspicious because of the last sentence in the email, it seemed to be a chain letter, so I have been hunting around and found this out about these emails that the Federal Trade Commission released on October 12th, 2007.

Here’s what my friends email said…and yes, the phone number is the valid DNC registry number.

>”REMINDER….all cell phone numbers are being released to telemarketing
>companies tomorrow and you will start to receive sale calls.
>
>….YOU WILL BE CHARGED FOR THESE CALLS
>…YOU WILL BE CHARGED FOR THESE CALLS
>
>To prevent this, call the following number from your cell phone:
>888-382-1222.
>
>It is the National DO NOT CALL list. It will only take a minute of your time
>It blocks your number for five (5) years . You must call from the cell
>phone number you want to have blocked. You cannot call from a different
>phone number.
>
>HELP OTHERS BY PASSING THIS ON TO ALL YOUR FRIENDS.
>It take about 20 seconds.”

It seems there are a number of scams out there and you should be very careful about what emails you are opening. In Summary the FCC regulations prohibit telemarketers from using automated dialers to call cell phone numbers. Automated dialers are standard in the industry, so most telemarketers don’t call consumers on their cell phones without their consent. Yes, you may place your personal cell phone number on the National Do Not Call Registry. The registry has accepted cell phone numbers since it opened for registrations in June 2003. There is no deadline to register a home or cell phone number on the Registry.